Reimagining Education: 2020 Style

As we embarked on the new school year in September, it was unclear exactly what lay ahead for our schools and students. What is now clear is that this is a moment for positive change. 

It’s a time to reimagine education so that it works for our entire community. NapaLearns is here to prepare students for success in the digital workplace and to transform learning by providing innovative teacher professional development.

Read on to see how we are embracing this inflection point in education. As Winston Churchill famously said, “Never let a good crisis go to waste.” We can’t go back, we can only go forward. I hope you will join us in this mission of preparing our students for the future. 

With appreciation,

Peg Maddocks, Ph.D.
Executive Director, NapaLearns
707.265.2712
Recipient of the 2020 North Bay Business Journal Nonprofit Leadership Award
Recipient of the 2019 Touro University Lamplighter in Education Award
In the spring of 2018, NapaLearns was awarded the Napa Valley Nonprofit Excellence Award. 

North Bay Business Journal Honors NapaLearns with Nonprofit Leadership Award

At the end of October, the North Bay Business Journal selected Peg Maddocks as one of the recipients of its annual Nonprofit Leadership Award! Peg was recognized for initiative and leadership in addressing the impact that COVID-19 has had on education and digital skills development, and for creating the NapaLearns Virtual Career Academy. 

Peg stated, “To me, the NapaLearns Virtual Career Academy is the most innovative and boldest program that we’ve undertaken in the 10-year history of NapaLearns. I am thrilled and honored to receive this recognition!” 

Please join us at a virtual recognition event on December 15, 2020, from 4:00-5:30pm. The event is free, but registration is required at NBBJ.NEWS/NONPROFIT20

NapaLearns Virtual Career Academy Takes Off!

The NapaLearns Career Academy launched in September with almost 100 students enrolled in six certification courses from Adobe, Autodesk, Cisco, and Google. Participants who complete the courses will be eligible to take certification exams that will help them launch their careers in digital marketing, digital design, programming, and information technology. Most importantly, the entire program is free thanks to our generous donors.

Watch the following video to see what students have to say about the program: 

What Comes Next? 

As NapaLearns continues to navigate the biggest disruption in education, we know that digital learning is here to stay and we will continue to invest in the professional development of our teachers and the digital workforce readiness of our students. 

We are already planning courses that will be offered in the NapaLearns Virtual Career Academy starting in the spring of 2021. Students in high school and beyond are invited to learn more about the program by attending one of our information sessions in January. 

Please help us spread the word!